Shloka 45
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
मायान्वितैर्वा रक्षोभि: सुघोरैर्दुढवैरिभि: । विपरीतं मतं जातं व्यासस्यापि महात्मन:
māyānvitair vā rakṣobhiḥ sughorair dṛḍhavairībhiḥ | viparītaṃ mataṃ jātaṃ vyāsasyāpi mahātmanaḥ ||
«Ou bien quelque rākṣasa effroyable, rompu à l’illusion et endurci dans la haine, l’a-t-il fait ? Est-il survenu quelque chose qui contredise même le jugement arrêté du grand Vyāsa ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how fear and uncertainty can overwhelm even when one trusts wise counsel: māyā (deception) and entrenched enmity create moral and practical danger, and a mother’s dharmic concern for her children surfaces as vigilant anxiety.
As the expected time passes and the sons have not returned, Kuntī imagines possible causes—either the Kauravas recognized and killed the Pāṇḍavas, or fearsome, illusion-wielding rākṣasas harmed them—wondering whether events have turned out contrary even to Vyāsa’s assured judgment.